Failure of the first step of two-stage revision due to polymicrobial prosthetic joint infection of the hip

Background

The unsuccessful treatment of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) with two-stage revision leads to infection recurrence. The objectives of the study were to assess the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with polymicrobial PJI, and to evaluate the role of the microbial profile involved in PJI in the risk of infection recurrence after the first step of two-stage revision surgery.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of 189 cases of culture-positive PJI following total hip replacement over a 5-year period was performed. The demographic characteristics of patients, clinical symptoms, microbiology cultures of intraoperative biopsies, laboratory values of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups—135 with monomicrobial and 54 with polymicrobial infection.

Results

Of all patients, 68.9 % in the monomicrobial and 83.3 % in the polymicrobial group had a body mass index >25 kg/m² (p = 0.05). The median CRP values were 5.7 mg/L (IQR 4.0–10.0 mg/L) in the monomicrobial compared to 8.8 mg/L (IQR 5.0–27 mg/L) in the polymicrobial group (p = 0.01). The percentage of successful outcomes was 27.8 % in patients with microbial associations (p < 0.0001). Gram-negative pathogens caused polymicrobial PJI in 61.5 % of cases with infection recurrence (OR 4.4; 95 % CI 1.18–16.37; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Overweight and obese patients or those with elevated CRP had a greater risk of polymicrobial PJI. They were predisposed to recurrence of infection after the first step of two-stage revision. An unsuccessful outcome was more likely in cases with polymicrobial infection compared to those with monomicrobial infection. In addition, the presence of multidrug-resistant strains of Gram-negative bacteria substantially increased the risk of PJI treatment being unsuccessful.

Level of evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.

     

Inguinal hernias associated with a single strenuous event

Introduction

There is debate regarding the role of physical activity and, in particular, a single strenuous event (SSE) in the development of inguinal hernia. This study aims to identify the incidence and associated features of hernias perceived to be due to a single strenuous event and to compare their features with published guidelines.

Materials and methods

All consecutive patients surgically treated for primary inguinal hernia at a single NHS trust between April 2010 and April 2011 were identified and contacted to participate in a questionnaire. Clinical details from operative records and case notes were compared with patients’ responses to identify features of their presentation attributable to a single strenuous event according to previously published guidelines.

Results

Three hundred and thirty five eligible patients were contacted with a response rate of 292 (87 %). 41/292 (14 %) of patients reported an SSE associated with the onset of their hernia. Only 2 of 41 (5 %) patients reporting a hernia associated with SSE met published criteria for association of the hernia with SSE, and this represented less than 1 % of all patients treated for inguinal hernia at a single centre in a 1-year period.

Conclusion

The relationship between physical activity and development of inguinal hernia is under debate; however, we find that inguinal hernia that can be attributed to SSE is a rare event, despite the fact that many patients present with acute symptoms. Updated guidelines for the assessment of ‘cause’ in industrial claims for the association of hernia with workplace activity are required.

     

What advice is given to newly qualified doctors on Twitter? An analysis of #TipsForNewDocs tweets

Context

Twitter is a social media platform on which users post very brief messages that can be rapidly communicated across wide geographical areas and audiences. Many doctors use Twitter for personal as well as professional communications and networking. The #TipsForNewDocs hashtag is used on Twitter to give advice to newly qualified doctors as they commence their careers. This study explores the nature and focus of such advice.

Methods

An analysis of Twitter activity containing the #TipsForNewDocs hashtag was performed using Symplur health care analytics software. Tweets sent during a peak 48‐hour period in 2016 (immediately preceding the first day of work for newly qualified UK doctors) were studied. The geographical locations and professional backgrounds of participants were categorised and the content of tweets was subjected to thematic analysis. During 1 and 2 August 2016, 661 unique #TipsForNewDocs tweets were posted. A total of 621 (94.0%) were posted by people in the UK ; 522 (79.0%) were posted by doctors, and the remainder by allied health care professionals and patients.

Results

The majority of included tweets focused on aspects of professional development, improving personal or professional knowledge, particularly tacit knowledge, and developing ‘know‐how’. These aspects of professional knowledge have previously been described as fundamental to professional education and training. However, a significant subset of tweets focused on accelerating socialisation into the profession, an essential step in joining a professional community. The tweets relating to socialisation were often humorous and colloquial in nature.

Conclusions

Despite their brief and often jocular nature, #TipsForNewDocs tweets provided meaningful advice for newcomers to the profession, often focusing on tacit learning and professional socialisation. Hashtag‐driven enquiries can be a valuable and time‐efficient way of accessing and sharing tacitly held knowledge. Social media content analysis can provide valuable insights into key educational issues.

     

Tailored use of belatacept in adolescent kidney transplantation

Adolescent transplant recipients are at risk for nonadherence, development of de novo donor‐specific antibody (dnDSA), and allograft loss. Belatacept, a selective T cell costimulatory blocker, is associated with reduced dnDSA, improved renal function, and prolonged allograft survival when compared to calcineurin inhibitor‐based regimens in adults; however, its use in children is scant. Three adolescents were initiated on belatacept between August 2017 and September 2018 at the time of kidney transplantation. Selection criteria included age ≥ 14 and EBV IgG + serostatus. Intraoperative alemtuzumab and methylprednisolone were given as induction therapy. Tailored maintenance therapy included steroid‐free belatacept and sirolimus for two patients. One patient was initially maintained steroid‐free on belatacept and belimumab, an inhibitor of B cell activating factor to treat concurrent systemic lupus erythematous; steroids were added subsequently. Renal function, biopsy‐proven rejection, dnDSA, allograft survival, infection, nonadherence, and proteinuria were monitored. Renal function was 86, 73, 52 mL/min/1.73 m² at 20, 20, and 8 months, respectively. There was 100% adherence to therapy and no development of dnDSA. All patients had treatable infections. One developed steroid‐responsive acute cellular rejection. Belatacept‐based regimens can be tailored for adolescent recipients with good short‐term clinical outcomes.